NBCUniversal cuts about 500 employees

In a round of year-end belt tightening, NBCUniversal is cutting about 500 employees, or about 1.5% of its total workforce.

The cuts are distributed throughout the media company, which boasts nearly 30,000 employees, according to a person close to the situation who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive topic.

Some of the layoffs have already occurred. Two months ago, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" eliminated about two dozen of its crew in an effort to reduce the late-night program's budget.

A large percentage of the cuts came from the tiny G4 cable channel, which celebrates video game culture. Last month, the channel canceled two of its signature and long-running shows, "Attack of the Show!" and "X-Play," leading to the departures of several dozen people.